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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Ackerman denied unemployment
Arlene C. Ackerman's unemployment claim has been denied by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, according to multiple sources. (File Photo / Staff)

UPDATE, 6 p.m.:

Arlene Ackerman has confirmed that her unemployment claim has been denied.  In an e-mail to The Inquirer, she wrote:

"I got the letter more than three weeks ago.  Though encouraged to do so, I decided not to appeal the decision.  I am moving on and Philadelphia is a closed chapter in my life.  I pray for the children of Philadelphia.....that is all that I can do now."

EARLIER:

Arlene C. Ackerman's unemployment claim has been denied by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, according to multiple sources.

Ackerman, the controversial former superintendent of schools, left the Philadelphia School District in August after a bitter public battle over leadership and finances.  She received a buyout approaching $1 million, then drew public ire by applying for unemployment benefits.

The Philadelphia School District, in its separation agreement with Ackerman, had agreed not to block Ackerman's unemployment claim.  Had the unemployment benefit of about $500 per week been granted, the district would have been on the hook for that money.

Citing privacy rules, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor said she could not comment on individual unemployment claims.

But people with knowledge of the situation said that Ackerman's claim was denied.

Ackerman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Posted by Kristen Graham @ 5:26 PM  Permalink | 66 comments
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:06 PM, 02/01/2012
    I pray for the children of Philadelphia.....that is all that I can do now." "I can't steal from them anymore."
    — __Brinsley
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:30 PM, 02/01/2012
    she is a consultant. she is getting paid to give her (useless) opinion. thus she is not unemployed.........
    — the lopez!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:34 PM, 02/01/2012
    I'm no fan of Arlene the Queen, but the absence of a reason for denying the claim makes the ruling appear to be arbitrary and capricious.
    — aviator
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:22 PM, 02/01/2012
    My guess was that the size and nature of the separation agreement gave the state unemployment office just cause for denial. I think that we should bring Ackerman back to Philly and prosecute her to the fullest degree of the law for steering contracts and related crimes.
    — DarnelC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:31 PM, 02/01/2012
    Ah, she left on bad terms and I think her taking the lump sum implies cooperation as in take take the money and we won't embarrass you.
    — ptahan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:35 PM, 02/01/2012
    She's gonna starve!
    — Disco Dave
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 PM, 02/01/2012
    Well, she's running a consultant business, so that should disqualify her (I would imagine)
    — turkytom
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 PM, 02/01/2012
    Thank goodness! One good thing comes out of the Ackerman debacle.
    — nikki1231
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:47 PM, 02/01/2012
    shes disgusting in all aspects
    — raynesrock
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:48 PM, 02/01/2012
    That she even applied was rather hilarious...in a messed up kind of way.
    — bearsfriend
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:50 PM, 02/01/2012
    har har har,,,hook her with milton
    — hardball
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:53 PM, 02/01/2012
    Thank god for some common sense at the state level, because the fools from the city would keep giving her everything. Now, how about getting back that severance package, which she did not earn.
    — slugo
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:54 PM, 02/01/2012
    She was paid just almost the balance of her contract in a lump sum. I don't remember any other executive applying for UC after a windfall but I guess she felt entitled. I'm glad she filed; shows you who she was really more concerned with all along: Queen Arlene.
    — JoeC.


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About Kristen Graham
Kristen Graham has covered the Philadelphia School District since May 2008. A native Philadelphian – and a graduate of the district and Temple University – she has written about everything from crime and county government to education since joining the Inquirer in 2000. Kristen, who also spent time as an online producer at Philly.com, has won multiple journalism prizes and if asked politely will sing as much of “Hail Northeast,” her high school’s alma mater, as she remembers. She comes from a family of teachers and believes there is no more difficult or important job than that of an educator.

During the school year, you’ll find Kristen chatting live on Philly.com most Mondays at noon or 4 p.m. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.

You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.

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